The unpleasant smell of sewage in the toilet quickly spreads outside the bathroom, creating discomfort for the residents of the apartment or house. Modern air fresheners and room ventilation are not able to solve this problem.
The appearance of an unpleasant aroma is the result of any malfunctions. Therefore, in order to get rid of the smell, it is necessary to determine the cause of its occurrence and take urgent measures to eliminate it.
You will learn all about ways to search for the causes of negative odors and methods of dealing with them by reading the material presented. We examined and systematized in detail both the prerequisites for their appearance, and methods of elimination. The information is supplemented by visual photo and video applications.
What to do when an unpleasant odor appears?
A bathroom is a sanitary-hygienic premise necessary in each apartment, which requires special care. If tenants comply with sanitary requirements, the toilet should not have any odors, including the smell of sewer gases.
In order to eliminate the unpleasant scent of the sewer, spreading to other rooms, you must first identify the cause of its appearance.
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Negative smell in the bathroom and toilet
Pressure drop in the sewer system
Installation of plumbing according to the rules
Weak natural drawing effect
With gases from the sewage system, not only pathogenic organisms can penetrate into the room, but also various harmful substances - hydrogen sulfide, sulfur oxide, ammonia, mercaptan and others.
Inhalation of these gases is harmful to humans and may be harmful to human health. Therefore, if there is a sewer smell, you must immediately identify the source of its appearance and eliminate the problem.
The first thing that owners of a room who usually have no idea about the features of the sewer system usually do is use air fresheners.
The scheme of sewage in the toilet will allow the owners of the living room to get an idea about the design and principle of operation of the sanitary equipment they use
Modern aerosols have a variety of flavors that can temporarily interrupt the unpleasant smell of sewers, but they are not able to eliminate it.
Possible causes of the appearance of a smell are the flow of gases from a drain hole of a certain or several plumbing fixtures.
Quite often, a disgusting "aroma" appears in the bathroom due to clogged devices or improper installation of plumbing equipment. However, there are other possible odors.
Problems with the operation of the water seal
Most often, the smell of sewage appears in the bathroom, if for some reason the water seal stops functioning normally.
In siphons installed under the plumbing equipment, there is a water plug, which acts as a barrier to the path of gases coming from sewer pipes. If there is no plug for any reason, then the gases penetrate the toilet unhindered, spreading an unpleasant odor.
The reason for the siphon to work improperly is that the section of the sewer pipes is completely filled with drains. Because of this, the water plug is removed from the water seal, it becomes empty
The siphon is located under the basic sanitary equipment of each toilet - the toilet. It is made in the form of a curved pipe in which a certain amount of water accumulates. The hydrolock acts as an effective barrier to unpleasant sewer odors.
Correct installation of a siphon (water trap) in the room of your bathroom will prevent the possible appearance of sharp odors from sewer pipes and sanitary equipment
In the event that significant violations occur in the operation of the siphon, a constant sewer smell will be observed in the apartment. Consider the main reasons why the siphon ceases to perform barrier functions.
Problem # 1 - Incorrect siphon installation
Mistakes made when installing a water trap provoke the appearance of a bad smell of sewer gases.
Suppose that during the installation of a bottle-type siphon, the outlet pipe of the pipe was set too high. In this case, the gases from the sewer will pass on top of the water plug, due to which the siphon will not be able to fully function.
When installing the siphon, it must be taken into account that an excessively low location of the outlet pipe will lead to a decrease in the level of the water plug
To fix the problem, the outlet pipe must be moved - it should be located 2-3 centimeters below the water level.
Problem # 2 - Water Cork Drying
If any plumbing equipment has not been used for a long time, the water plug may dry out. As a result, sewer gases will freely enter the toilet.
In this case, troubleshooting will not take much time and effort. Ensure that water enters so that the elbows seal is completely filled.
Drying of the water plug is a frequent occurrence in bathrooms that are not used for their intended purpose. You can fix the problem yourself, without contacting a specialist
If you plan to leave the house for a long time, it is recommended to pour a little vegetable oil into the drain. The film will reduce the rate of water evaporation and increase the time period, due to which the water plug will not dry out quickly.
Problem # 3 - Stretching Corrugated Pipe
When using plastic siphons with a corrugated pipe, a bad smell can occur due to the fact that the corrugation has sagged over time. More often this happens when not special clamps are used to fix the knee, but an electrical tape or ordinary adhesive tape.
When choosing a corrugated pipe for installation in your bathroom, it should be taken into account that it has the properties of stretching over time. This may cause system problems.
To eliminate this problem, it is necessary to give the corrugation the correct position and fix it with a clamp.
Problem # 4 - incorrect installation of the corrugation
An unpleasant sewer odor in the toilet may indicate that the installation rules for the corrugated air seal have been violated. It's about bending to form a siphon.
If the installation of plumbing is carried out by an inexperienced specialist, he may not know that the corrugated pipe should be bent with a knee, and then fix it in this position. Sometimes the bend of the corrugation is made insufficient.
Incorrect connection of the corrugated plastic pipe to the outlet pipe of the plumbing device - toilet. Incorrect installation may cause malfunctions.
To correct the installation error, it is necessary to bend the corrugated pipe to the desired configuration. After that, it is necessary to fix the corrugation with a special clamp made of plastic. For the installation to be successful, it is recommended to use the services of a specialist.
Problem # 5 - siphon clogging
The reason for the appearance of an unpleasant smell of sewer gases in your toilet may be the usual clogging of the sanitary siphon. The sewage settles in the siphon knee and begins to decompose, releasing a fetid odor.
In case of clogging of the water seal, it must be washed. You can use chemicals for washing, which are sold in household chemical stores. In some cases, mechanical cleaning of the hydraulic seal is necessary.
Bottle type siphons can be easily cleaned without dismantling the equipment. To clean the water seal, unscrew the bottom element of the bulb. However, these toilet appliances are not suitable.
More often corrugated siphons get clogged in practice. This is because they have a folded surface on the inside of the plastic pipe. This feature of the corrugation design contributes to the retention of garbage, grease, waste and other effluents. In order to rinse the corrugated siphon, it must be completely dismantled.
Stable operation of siphons, through which plumbing is connected to the sewer, will be ensured by the installation of a vacuum valve:
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Forks of vacuum sewer valves
Siphon Vacuum Valve
Vacuum valve in the bath connection
Vacuum valve at the entrance to the toilet siphon
Other types of problems
If there are no problems with a water lock, then you will have to carefully inspect the room, paying attention not only to the sewer system, but also ventilation and other nuances. We will try to understand in more detail what exactly can cause stench.
Reason # 1 - clogged sewer pipes
To successfully eliminate the clogging of pipes installed in the bathroom of an apartment or house, it is enough to purchase a special chlorine-containing product.
For effective cleaning of sewer pipes in the bathroom and the bathroom, preparations from leading manufacturers are often used: Domestos, Deboucher, Tiret or Mole.
Cleaning the toilet with household products containing chlorine can be done with your own hands. The drugs are used according to the instructions on the bottle.
The drug is poured into the sewer for a certain period of time. Due to the effective action of modern household appliances, the blockage usually disappears, and the normal functioning of the plumbing device is established. If a household chemical product does not clean the pipe, then it is necessary to call the plumbing.
Reason # 2 - installation errors of the sewage system
Not only problems with the siphon can be the cause of the inferior work of the sanitary equipment. The cause of the narrowing of the lumen in the pipe may be a clogged sewer. Sewer pipe cleaning methods are detailed in our recommended article.
In this case, pipe cleaning is required. Errors that were made during the installation of the sewer system lead to breakdowns and drying out of the water plug.
Installation of plumbing equipment in the bathroom of an apartment or house should be carried out taking into account accepted standards and installation rules
In some cases, when installing plumbing equipment, pipes of small diameter that do not meet construction standards are used.
For normal operation of the sewer system, it is necessary that the cross-section of the pipe is not completely blocked by drains, otherwise a vacuum will occur in the pipeline, which will lead to the failure of the installed water seal.
If pipes are laid in a cold room, icing is possible in winter. To solve the problem, it is necessary to melt the ice with hot water and pick up pipes of larger diameter
A clogged fan pipe is a common cause of plumbing malfunction. This element is displayed on the roof of the building and is designed to equalize the pressure in the installed sewage system.
The fan pipe may become clogged (for example, it is blocked by an ice plug in winter), as a result of which a discharge occurs in the sewer system.
Each time you drain the water (for example, during operation of the toilet flush tank) the siphons break and the gases penetrate into the room. To eliminate the cause of the smell, clean the pipe.
Reason # 3 - system leakage
The cause of sewage odor may be a violation of the tightness of the pipe or connections. It should be noted that it is not always possible to quickly detect a leak.
Sometimes in the bathroom there is a hidden installation of pipes, which complicates the process of finding a problem. Effluents slowly flow from the leak and lead to mold growth and an unpleasant odor.
To identify problems in the plumbing, you need to check the places of leaks in the sewer. In the case of flush mounting, it is difficult to immediately notice a leak
Plumbing equipment leaks may be in the most unexpected places. For example, it is quite difficult to detect leaks in the slab. The most common cause of leakage and the appearance of a sharp sewer smell in the toilet is a loose connection of the corrugation and the drain pipe.
Having found this defect, it is urgent to replace the corrugation, as well as restore the mandatory tightness of the pipe joint. If leaks in the connection between the sewer pipe and the siphon are found, sealant must be used.
The silicone layer will reliably protect the junction area of the elements of sanitary equipment from leaks.
Reason # 4 - poor ventilation performance
In the toilet and in the bathroom, water is used daily, therefore, in these rooms there is increased humidity. To successfully deal with this phenomenon, a ventilation system is mandatory in the bathroom and other above-mentioned rooms.
Most apartment buildings use a natural exhaust system, but it does not work effectively in every case.
Keep in mind that ventilation ducts are always clogged with cobwebs, dust and other debris. For this reason, they should be cleaned periodically.
In order to check how well the installed ventilation system works, a simple test should be performed. It is necessary to take a sheet of paper and bring it to the ventilation. If it works efficiently, then the sheet is pressed against the grate.
In the event that the paper sheet falls onto the floor, the ventilation system does not work properly and requires cleaning.
Checking the ventilation system can be carried out independently by the owners of the room. To do this, use a sheet of paper or a lighter (match)
In some cases, cleaning the ventilation ducts does not bring the desired result, then there is a need for the construction of forced ventilation.
Additional equipment is usually installed in the hole for natural ventilation. The second fan is turned on as necessary - when using the bathroom.
To avoid ventilation problems, clean the ventilation holes as often as possible. For better air exchange, it is better to install a hood equipped with a check valve.
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Step 1: Purchasing an Axial Exhaust Fan
Step 2: The device of the power line from the lighting branch
Step 3: Marking the attachment points of the fan casing
Step 4: Drilling holes in the wall according to the marking
Step 5: Fixing the bottom of the chassis to the wall
Step 6: Connect the exhaust device to the wiring
Step 7: Attaching the Protective Cover
Installing an exhaust fan on the ceiling
Reason # 5 - Incorrect pipe installation
It happens that a sharp sewer smell appeared in the toilet or in the bathroom almost immediately after moving into a new apartment or house. In this case, the cause of the stench must be sought in an illiterate sewage system.
Today, there are specific norms for laying sewer pipes that must be observed during installation. If there is a breakdown in the sewer, you will have to re-install the pipeline, which will entail considerable expenses.
Often an unpleasant odor in the bathroom appears due to improper connection of sewer pipes. If you violate the accepted installation standards, the system will not be able to work properly
The stagnation of wastewater and the emergence of a persistent fetid odor results from the incorrect location of sewer pipes, or rather, non-compliance with the optimal angle of inclination.
The error can be corrected only by dismantling the system and installing sewer pipes under the correct slope. You will learn from what angle it is laid to lay sewer pipelines from the article we have proposed.
If plastic elements are used, it is necessary to repair pipe joints that are loose. It is enough to install sealing cuffs or change gaskets.
Now, homeowners prefer to build their own buildings. In this case, in order to avoid misunderstandings, it is better to entrust specialists with the development of a project of engineering networks and the installation of a sewer system and plumbing equipment.
Reason # 6 - non-compliance with hygiene rules
The owner of any dwelling should understand that one of the most common causes of unpleasant odors in the bathroom is non-compliance with hygiene rules.
The reason for the stench may be untimely washing off of waste products and a rare washing of plumbing equipment.
Each owner of an apartment or house must follow the usual rules of hygiene and constantly wash the sink, bath and toilet bowl with household appliances intended for this purpose.
To care for the plumbing in the toilet, it is enough to follow simple sanitary requirements and regularly wash the toilet with special means. They effectively kill microbes, saving the bathroom from the causes of a bad smell.
In the modern market of household products, disinfectants have proven their worth: Domestos, Toilet duckling, Dosia, Oda, Cillit Bang, Comet.
Toilet odor control products
Before finding out the cause of the sewer smell in the bathroom and eliminate the breakdown, it is recommended to use special household products that will temporarily eliminate the unpleasant odor:
- Fresh air automatic odor dispenser or aerosol.
- Stickers stripes or blocks that are attached to the toilet.
- Flavored tablets for toilet flush tank.
For a country house and cottage, special means are used to care for the country toilets and cesspools.
The preparations contain bacteria that help to quickly process the entire contents of the toilet, eliminating the unpleasant odor of the sewer. More commonly used brands: Saneks, Bioforce septic, Septic Shock.
No. 1 - microspray and aroma dispenser
Both tools are attached to the bathroom wall. Their difference is that microspray gives out aroma after clicking on it, and aroma dispenser allocates it automatically during the day. In this case, the aroma is served after a certain period of time and in a metered amount. Among the popular brands - Glade, Airwick.
Automatic aroma dispenser is a universal remedy that can eliminate unpleasant odors of any origin, but only for a while
Alternative option - helium freshener. It can be attached to the wall of the bathroom or put on a shelf. It deodorizes the room with pleasant aromas for 60 days.
All of the above funds superficially and temporarily solve the problem of unpleasant sewer odor in the toilet, but they are not able to kill germs, remove pollution and eliminate the cause of stench.
No. 2 - flavored tablets for a tank
An effective tool to get rid of the sewer smell is flavored tablets. They sink into the toilet flush tank.
After each drain, the tablet refreshes the bathroom with a pleasant aroma, effectively disinfects it and prevents the appearance of urinary stone and rust on the walls of the toilet.
The advantages of flavored tablets over alternative means are the possibility of reusable use, the performance of several functions at the same time and an affordable price
Flavored tablets used in the toilet flush tank are able to stain water in green or blue.
In the modern market of household chemicals, high-quality brand products are especially popular: Fresh, Rio, Snowter, Bloo, Liaara.
No. 3 - strip stickers and blocks
To eliminate odors in the toilet, blocks and sticker strips glued to the toilet are often used. They deodorize the air and have antiseptic properties, helping to fight harmful bacteria. In contact with water, they provide pleasant freshness in the room.
The most demanded sticker strips Domestos and dressing duckling. They are designed for long-term action - approximately 450 contacts with water
Suspending gel blocks are effective against odors. They perform several functions at once: they deodorize the air, wash and disinfect the toilet. Blocks are easy to replenish and are designed for 100 flushes. Most Popular: Domestos, Bref, Dressing duckling.
Some useful tips on how to get rid of an unpleasant toilet “aroma”.
It must be understood that if the unpleasant smell of sewage appeared in the bathroom once, it will appear again soon. Therefore, this problem should not be left to chance, but it must be solved. Timely repair of damage will save your time and money.
Do you have a special method of dealing with the negative “scents” spread by the sewer system? Do you want to talk about an effective method or disagree with the information provided? Please write comments in the box below.